Locks



Feb. 26, 1963 0. MORRISON, JR

LOCKS Filed May 19. 1959 n m miw INVENTOR. Dav/b NoPP/lsoMJz. BY 4% I do;

United States Patent 1 3,078,705 LOCKS David Morrison, Jra, New Haven, Conn., assignor to American Hardware Corporation, New Britain, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed May 19, 1959, Ser. No. 814,253 14 Claims. (Cl. 70-383) This invention relates to locks, and more particularly to key operated lock cylinders of the Well known pintumbler type which are used to a great extent in door locks, night latches, padlocks and many other types of locking devices.

Pin-tumbler lock cylinders now in general use must be completely dis-assembled in order to change the combinations thereof. This generally requires the services of a skilled locksmith, and in cases where is it necessary to change the combinations of a large number of lock cylinders, the task is both time consuming and expensive.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a lock cylinder whose combination may easily be changed without disassembling the lock cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock cylinder whose combination may be changed simply by the use of a key.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lock cylinder which is so constructed that one or more of the pin-tumblers may be removed from its initial position therein without disassembling the lock cylinder in order to change its combination.

An important object of this invention is to provide a master-keyed lock cylinder which is normally operable by a plurality of keys, but which may be rendered permanently unresponsive to one or more of said keys without disassembling the lock cylinder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a masterkeyed lock cylinder which is initially provided with a temporary pin-tumbler which may be removed from the lock cylinder in order to change its combination.

A further object of this invention is to provide a masterkeyed lock cylinder which may initially be operated by a temporary master key, a permanent master key and a service key, but which may be rendered unresponsive to the temporary master key by means of a special disabling key.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a master-keyed lock cylinder having a temporary pin-tumbler in one or more of its pin-bores which may be permanently removed therefrom by means of a disabling key so that said lock cylinder cannot thereafter be operated by the temporary master key.

One of the practical uses for locks embodying the present invention is in the door locks of a large building. During the construction of a building, each of the contractors is usually given a temporary or construction" master key which will operate any number or all of the lock cylinders so that the contractor may enter the building at any time to do his work. When the building has been completed, it is common practice to change the pin-tumbler combinations of the various lock cylinders therein so that they can no longer be operated by the temporary master key, thus preventing entry into the building by unauthorized or unscrupulous persons who might have gained possession of a temporary master key. Heretofore, it was necessary to disassemble each lock cylinder to change its pin-tumbler combination, but, with the present invention, the combinations of the lock cylinders may be easily, quickly and permanently changed by an authorized person possessing the proper disabling key.

A preferred form of lock constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a master-keyed, pintumbler lock cylinder, partly in central vertical section, showing the initial combination of pin-tumblers in the first pin-bore arranged in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of said lock cylinder taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the pin-tumblers in the first pin-bore of the lock cylinder of FIG. 1 and the positions which said pin-tumblers occupy with respect to the shear line of the lock cylinder when the temporary master key is inserted in the keyway thereof.

FIG. 4 is a similar view illustrating the positions occupied by said pin-tumblers when the permanent master key is inserted in said keyway.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrating the positions to which said pin-tumblers are moved by the service key for the lock cylinder.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, elevational view, partially in central vertical section, illustrating the positions assumed by said tumblers when the disabling key is inserted into the keyway.

FIG. 7 is a sectional, end view of the lock cylinder of FIG. 6 illustrating an intermediate step in the removal of the temporary pin-tumbler from the lock cylinder by the disabling key.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating a further step in the removal of the temporary pin-tumbler from the lock cylinder.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 8 illustrating the final step in the removal of the temporary pin-tumbler from the lock cylinder.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the positions assumed by the pin-tumblers with respect to the shear line of the lock cylinder when an attempt is made to operate the key plug with the temporary master key after the temporary pin-tumbler has been removed.

In the lock cylinder shown in the drawing, I have utilized only the first pin-bore of the lock cylinder to illustrate the novel features of my invention. It will be understood, however, that the invention may be incorporated in any one or all of the pin-bores of the lock cylinder disclosed and in many other types of pin-tumbler lock cylinders. In addition, many other combinations and arrangements of pin-tumblers may be used according to the keying system desired.

The lock cylinder illustrated is, for the most part, of the conventional'pin-tumbler type and includes a housing 5 comprising a cylindrical portion 6 and an integral, radially extending chamber portion 7. The cylindrical portion 6 of the housing contains an axial opening 8, and a plurality of equally spaced holes 9 extend radially from the opening 8 into the chamber portion 7.

A key-plug 10 is rotatably mounted in the axial opening 8 and is provided at its outer end with a flange 11 which abuts the outer end of the housing 5 and prevents inward axial movement of the key-plug with respect thereto. Axial movement of the key-plug 10 in an outward direction with respect to the housing 5 is prevented by a retaining ring 12 which is mounted in an annular groove formed in the key-plug and abuts the inner end of the housing 5. A blade 13 extends axially from the inner end of the key-plug and is adapted to engage and actuate the locking mechanism of the door lock or other locking device in which the lock cylinder is mounted.

The key-plug 10 contains a plurality of equally spaced, radially extending holes 14 in one side thereof, and an axially extending keyway 15 which intersects said holes and opens to the opposite side of the key-plug. The holes 14 are aligned with the holes 9 in the housing 5 when the key-plug is in its normal locked position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, and said holes 9 and 14 form elongated pin-bores 16 which communicate with the keyway 15. Each of said pin-bores 16 contains a series of conventional tumbler elements of predetermined lengths which are slidable in said bores, and in the lock cylinder shown in the drawing, the tumbler elements in all but the first pin-bore are arranged in combinations common to master-keyed lock cylinders and function in a conventional manner.

In the first pin-bore, where I have chosen to illustrate my invention, the tumbler elements include an anti-friction ball 17, which facilitates insertion and withdrawal of a key, a service pin 18, a master pin 19, a special temporary pin 20 and a driver pin 21. The said tumbler elements are urged toward the keyway by a spring 22, and, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the driver pin 21 extends across the shear line 23 of the lock cylinder to prevent rotation of the key-plug 10; the shear line being defined as the line formed by the peripheral surface of the key-plug 10 and the wall of the opening 8. Each of the remaining pinbores of the lock cylinder contains tumbler elements arranged in a conventional manner and including an anti-friction ball 17, a service pin 24, a master pin 25, a driver pin 26 and a spring 22. The temporary pin contained in the first pin-bore is absent from the other bores, but it will hereinafter be understood that said temporary pin could be used in anyone or more of the pin-bores in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

The lock cylinder illustrated herein is initially adapted to be operated by a temporary master key 27, a permanent master key 28 and a service key 29, all of which are bitted in the conventional manner and lift the pintumblers in each of the pin-bores to shear position upon insertion thereof into the keyway 15.

When the temporary master key 27 (see FIG. 3) is inserted into the keyway 15, the pin-tumblers in the first pin-bore are moved to a position wherein the abutting ends of the driver pin 21 and the temporary pin 20 are aligned with the shear line 23, thus permitting rotation of the key-plug. When the permanent master key 28 (see FIG. 4) is used to operate the lock cylinder, said pin-tumblers are moved to a position wherein the abutting ends of the temporary pin 20 and the master pin 19 are aligned with the shear line 23. The service key 29 (see FIG. 5) is so bitted that, when inserted into the keyway 15, it will lift the pin-tumblers in the first pinbore to a position wherein the abutting ends of the master pin 19 and the service pin 18 are aligned with the shear line 23 of the lock cylinder. It will thus be understood that the original arrangement of the pin-tumblers in the lock cylinder permits operation thereof by any one or the three keys above mentioned, and any person, for instance, a building contractor, possessing a temporary master key 27, may operate the lock cylinder.

The present invention provides means whereby the temporary pin-tumbler 20 may be removed from the first pir1-bore without disasembling the lock cylinder to thereby change the combination of the lock cylinder so that it cannot be operated by the temporary master key 27.

Removal of the temporary pin-tumbler 20 is accomplished through the use of a special disabling key 30 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9. Said disabling key is preferably made from the same key-blank as the other keys for the lock cylinder and, in the present case, the first hitting 30-11 thereof is cut to the same depth as the first hitting of the permanent master key 28. In addition, the disabling key 30 is provided in its lower edge with a recess in the form of a notch 31 that is aligned with the first pin-bore when the key is fully inserted into the keyway 15, and the length and depth of the notch 31 are such that the temporary pin 20 will fit thereinto as will be hereinafter described. In order to allow the temporary pin 20, which is larger in diameter than the width of the keyway 15, to enter the notch 31 in the disabling key 30, the opposite sides of the keyway are cut away to form a recess or slot 32 in the periphery of the key-plug The slot 32 is slightly wider than the diameter of the temporary pin 20 and defines a passageway in said lock extending from a point inwardly of the first pin-bore to the front end of the key-plug as best illustrated in FIG. 1.

When it is desired to change the combination of the lock cylinder so that it cannot be operated by the temporary master key 27, the disabling key 30 is inserted fully into the keyway 15. Since the depth of the first hitting 33w: of said key is the same as that of the permanent master key 28, the pin-tumblers in the first pin-bore will be moved to a position wherein the abutting ends of the temporary pin 29 and the master pin 19 will be aligned with the shear line 23 of the lock cylinder as shown in FIG. 6. The temporary pin 20 is thus disposed in that part of the pin-bore within the lock housing 5, and when the key plug 19 is rotated by the disabling key, the temporary pin will remain stationary while the service pin 18 and the master pin 19 are carried around with the keyplug. When the key-plug has been rotated to the position illustrated in FIG. 7, the slot 32 therein and the notch 31 in the disabling key are aligned with the pinhole 9 whereupon said temporary pin 20 is urged into said slot 32 and into the notch 31 by the compression spring 22 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The depth of the notch 31 in the disabling key is such that the end of the driver pin 21 is prevented from entering said notch and is positioned on the shear line 23 so as not to interfere with the rotation of the key-plug. When the key-plug is rotated back to its normal position, the temporary pin 2% will be carried therewith in the slot 32, as shown in FIG. 8, and upon withdrawal of the disabling key 30 from the keyway 15, the temporary pin 20 will be carried out of the keyway in the notch 31 and will drop out of said notch when it clears the end of the lock housing as shown in FIG. 9.

The pin-tumbler combination in the first pin-bore is thus changed by the removal of the temporary pin 20, and should an attempt be made thereafter to operate the lock cylinder with the temporary master key 27, the pin-tumblers in the first pin-bore will assume the positions illustrated in FIG. 10 wherein the driver 21 is disposed across the shear line 23 and will thus prevent rotation of the key plug. The lock cylinder may, however, be operated by the permanent master key 28 or the service key 29 since removal of the temporary pin 20 does not affect the location of the master pin 19 or of the service pin 18.

I claim:

1. In a lock, a housing, a unitary key plug mounted in said housing for movement between locking and unlocking positions and having a keyway, there being at least one tumbler bore in said housing and said keyplug communicating with said keyway, a series of tumbler elements movable in said bore to a release position wherein movement of the key plug to unlocking position is permitted, a first used key and a second change key insertable into said keyway and bitted for cooperation with said series of tumbler elements, the initial combination of said series of tumbler elements being such that said series of tumbler elements is moved to a release position when either said first key or said second key is inserted into said keyway so that said key plug is operable by either of said keys, and a recess in said unitary key plug communicable with said bore for receiving and effecting permanent removal of at least one of said tumbler elements from said bore the first time second key is used to operate said key plug to thereby provide a permanent new series of tumbler elements in said bore, the combination of said new series of tumbler elements being such that said new series of tumbler elements is moved to a locking position, wherein movement of said key plug to unlocking position is prevented, when said first key is inserted into said keyway thereby permanently preventing operation of said key plug by said first key after the initial series of tumbler elements has been changed.

2. In a lock, a housing, a unitary key plug mounted in said housing for movement between locking and unlocking positions and having a keyway, said housing and said key plug having tumbler holes which are alignable and form a tumbler bore communicating with said keyway, a series of tumbler elements movable in said bore to release positions wherein movement of the key plug to unlocking position is permitted, a first used key and a second change key insertable into said keyway and bitted for cooperation with said series of tumbler elements, said series of tumbler elements initially including a temporary tumbler element sized to permit movement of said series of tumbler elements to a release possition when either said first key or said second key is inserted into said keyway, said temporary tumbler element being moved to a first position when said first key is used and to a second position when said second key is used, and a recess in said unitary key plug communicable with said bore for receiving said temporary tumbler element from said bore the first time said key plug is operated by said second key and with said temporary tumbler element in its said second position to thereby effect permanent removal of said temporary tumbler element from said series of tumbler elements and thereby provide a permanent new series of tumbler elements in said bore, said new series of tumbler elements being moved to a locking position, wherein movement of said key plug to unlocking position is prevented, when said first key is inserted into said keyway thereby permanently preventing operation of said key plug by said first key after the temporary tumbler element has been removed.

3. In a lock, a housing having an opening therein, a unitary key plug mounted in said opening for movement between locking and unlocking positions and having a keyway, said housing and said key plug having tumbler holes which are alignable and form a tumbler bore extending across the shearline of said lock defined by the adjacent surfaces of said keyplug and said opening and communicating with said keyway, a series of tumbler elements movable in said bore to release positions wherein the abutting ends of adjacent tumbler elements are aligned with said shearline to permit movement of said keyplug to unlocking position, a first used key and a second change key insertable into said keyway and bitted for cooperation with said series of tumbler elements, said series of tumbler elements initially including a temporary tumbler element sized to permit movement of said series of tumbler elements to a release position when either said first key or said second key is inserted into said keyway whereby said key plug is operable by either of said keys, said temporary tumbler element being disposed in the tumbler hole in said housing adjacent said shearline when said second key is inserted into said keyway, said unitary key plug having a recess therein movable into communication with the tumbler hole in said housing through movement of said key plug by said second key and adapted to receive said temporary tumbler element from said tumbler hole in said housing, whereby, when said second key is first used to operate said key plug, said temporary tumbler element is permanently removed from said series of tumbler elements in said re cess to thereby provide a permanent new series of tumbler elements in said bore, said new series of tumbler elements being moved to a position wherein one of said new series of tumbler elements is disposed across said shearline when said first key is inserted into said keyway thereby permanently preventing operation of said key plug by said first key after the initial series of tumbler elements has been changed.

4. The subject matter set forth in claim 3, wherein said recess comprises a slot in the periphery of said key plug opening to an end thereof and adapted to receive said temporary tumbler element from the tumbler hole in said housing whereby said temporary tumbler element may be removed from said lock through the open end of said slot.

5. In a lock, a housing, a key plug mounted in said housing for movement between locking and unlocking positions and having a keyway, there being at least one tumbler bore in said housing and said key plug cornmunicating with said keyway, a series of tumbler elements movable in said bore to a release position wherein movement of the key plug to unlocking position is permitted, a first used key and a second change key insertable into said keyway and bitted for cooperation with said series of tumbler elements, the initial combination of said series of tumbler elements being such that said series of tumbler elements is moved to a release position when either said first key or said second key is inserted into said keyway so that said key plug is operable by either of said keys, and a passageway in said lock communicable with said bore and leading to the exterior of said lock for receiving and effecting permanent removal of at least one of said tumbler elements from said lock when said second key is first used to operate said key plug to thereby provide a permanent new series of tumbler elements in said bore, the combination of said new series of tumbler elements being such that said new series of tumbler elements is moved to a locking position, wherein movement of said key plug to unlocking position is prevented, when said first key is inserted into said keyway thereby permanently preventing operation of said key plug by said first key after the initial series of tumbler elements has been changed.

6. In a lock, a housing, a key plug mounted in said housing for movement between locking and unlocking positions and having a keyway, there being at least one tumbler bore in said housing and said keyplug communicating with said keyway, a series of tumbler elements movable in said bore to release positions wherein movement of the key plug to unlocking position is permitted, a first used key and a second change key insertable into said keyway and bitted for cooperation with said series or" tumbler elements, said series of tumbler elements initially including a temporary tumbler element sized to permit movement of said series of tumbler elements to a release position when either said first key or said second key is inserted into said keyway and being moved to a first position when said first key is used and to a second position when said second key is used, and a passageway in said lock communicable with said bore and leading to the exterior of said lock for receiving and etiecting permanent removal of said temporary tumbler element from said lock the first time said key plug is operated by said second key and with said temporary tumbler element in its said second position to thereby provide a permanent new series or" tumbler elements in said bore, said new series of tumbler elements being moved to a locking position, wherein movement of said key plug to unlocking position is prevented, when said first key is inserted into said keyway thereby permanently preventing operation of said key plug by said first key after the initial series of tumbler elements has been changed.

7. The subject matter set forth in claim 6, wherein said passageway in said lock is in said key plug and is in the form of a slot which is adapted to receive said temporary tumbler element and opens to one end of said key plug, said temporary tumbler element being removable from said lock through said slot.

8. In a look, a housing, a key plug mounted in said housing for movement between locking and unlocking positions and having a keyway, a series of tumbler elements movable in said housing and said key plug to a release position wherein movement of the key plug to unlock ing position is permitted, a key bittecl to position said tumbler elements in a release position upon insertion thereof into said keyway to permit movement of said key plug to unlocking position, said key having a recess therein adapted to receive one of said tumbler elements from said housing whereby said one tumbler element may be removed from said lock in said recess upon withdrawal of said key from said keyway to thereby provide a new series of tumbler elements in said lock.

9. The subject matter set forth in claim 8, wherein said keyway opens to the outer surface of said key plug and wherein the recess in said key receivessaid one of said tumbler elements through the open side of said keyway.

10. In a lock, a housing, a key plug mounted in said housing for movement between locking and unlocking positions, said key plug having a keyway and at least one tumbler bore therein communicating with said keyway, a series of tumbler elements movable in said here to a release position wherein movement of the key plug to unlocking position is permitted, a temporary key and a disabling key insertable into said keyway and bitted for cooperation with said series of tumbler elements, the initial combination of said series of tumbler elements being such that said series of tumbler elements is movable to a release position when either said temporary key or said disabling key is inserted into said keyway so that said key plug is operable by either of said keys, and means whereby one of said tumbler elements is removed from said series of tumbler elements when said disabling key is used to operate said key plug to thereby provide a new series of tumbler elements in said bore, the combination of said new series of tumbler elements being such that said new series of tumbler elements is movable to a locking position, wherein movement of said key plug to unlocking position is prevented, when said temporary key is inserted into said keyway to thereby prevent operation of said key plug by said temporary key after the initial series of tumbler elements has been changed, said means including a recess in said disabling key adapted to receive said one of said tumbler elements whereby said one tumbler element may be removed from said lock in said recess upon withdrawal of said disabling key from said keyway.

11. In a lock, a housing having an opening therein, a key plug rotatable in said opening and having a radial tumbler hole in one side thereof and an axial keyway, the upper edge of said keyway intersecting said tumbler hole and at its lower edge opening to the periphery of said key plug, said housing having a tumbler hole extending radially from the opening therein and with which the tumbler hole in said key plug is alignable to form a. tumbler bore communicating with said keyway and extending across the shear-line of said lock defined by the periphery of said'key plug and the surface of said opening, a series of abutting tumbler elements slidable in said tumbler bore, a temporary key and a disabling key each having a blade insertable into said keyway and providedwith an upper edge bitted to locate said series of tumbler elements in a shear position, wherein the abutting ends of adjacent tumbler elements are aligned with said shear-line, to permit rotation of said key plug, the blade of said disabling key having a lower edge portion which is spaced radially inwardly from the periphery of said key plug and registers with said tumbler bore when said disabling key is inserted in said keyway, and at least one of the tumbler elements remaining in the tumbler hole in said housing when said disabling key is used to operate said key plug being adapted to enter the space in said keyway between said lower edge portion of said disabling key and the periphery of said key plug when said key plug is rotated by said disabling key to bring said lower edge of the keyway into register with said tumbler hole in the housing, whereby said one tumbler element is permanently removed from said series of tumbler elements in said keyway upon rotation of said key plug to provide a new permanent series of tumbler elements in said tumbler bore, said new series of tumbler elements being movable to a position wherein one of said tumbler elements is disposed across said shear-line when said temporary key is inserted into said keyway to thereby permanently prevent operation of said key plug by said temporary key after said one tumbler element has been removed.

12. The subject matter est forth in claim 11, wherein said lower edge portion of said disabling key forms the bottom of a notch in said key, said notch being adapted to receive said one tumbler element whereby said one tumbler element is removed from said keyway in said notch upon withdrawal of said key.

13. The subject matter set forth in claim 11, wherein said temporary key has a lower edge which is disposed substantially flush with the periphery of said key plug when said temporary key is inserted in said keyway to prevent the tumbler element in the tumbler hole in said housing from entering said keyway when said key plug is rotated by said temporary key.

14. The subject matter set forth in claim 11, wherein said one tumbler element is larger than the width of said keyway and the opposite sides of said keyway are cut away to form a slot in the periphery of said key plug which opens to the outer end thereof and is adapted to accommodate said one tumbler element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,650,564 Wolff Nov. 22, 1927 1,650,568 Hurd Nov. 22, 19.27 1,796,098 Hardy Mar. 10, 1931 2,059,129 Maxwell et al. Oct. 27, 1936 2,818,723 Levin Jan. 7, 1958 

1. IN A LOCK, A HOUSING, A UNITARY KEY PLUG MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING POSITIONS AND HAVING A KEYWAY, THERE BEING AT LEAST ONE TUMBLER BORE IN SAID HOUSING AND SAID KEYPLUG COMMUNICATING WITH SAID KEYWAY, A SERIES OF TUMBLER ELEMENTS MOVABLE IN SAID BORE TO A RELEASE POSITION WHEREIN MOVEMENT OF THE KEY PLUG TO UNLOCKING POSITION IS PERMITTED, A FIRST USED KEY AND A SECOND CHANGE KEY INSERTABLE INTO SAID KEYWAY AND BITTED FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID SERIES OF TUMBLER ELEMENTS, THE INITIAL COMBINATION OF SAID SERIES OF TUMBLER ELEMENTS BEING SUCH THAT SAID SERIES OF TUMBLER ELEMENTS IS MOVED TO A RELEASE POSITION WHEN EITHER SAID FIRST KEY OR SAID SECOND KEY IS INSERTED INTO SAID KEYWAY SO THAT SAID KEY PLUG IS OPERABLE BY EITHER OF SAID KEYS, AND A RECESS IN SAID UNITARY KEY PLUG COMMUNICABLE WITH SAID BORE FOR RECEIVING AND EFFECTING PERMANENT REMOVAL OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID TUMBLER ELEMENTS FROM SAID BORE THE FIRST TIME SECOND KEY IS USED TO OPERATE SAID KEY PLUG TO THEREBY PROVIDE A PERMANENT NEW SERIES OF TUMBLER ELEMENTS IN SAID BORE, THE COMBINATION OF SAID NEW SERIES OF TUMBLER ELEMENTS BEING SUCH THAT SAID NEW SERIES OF TUMBLER ELEMENTS IS MOVED TO A LOCKING POSITION, WHEREIN MOVEMENT OF SAID KEY PLUG TO UNLOCKING POSITION IS PREVENTED, WHEN SAID FIRST KEY IS INSERTED INTO SAID KEYWAY THEREBY PERMANENTLY PREVENTING OPERATION OF SAID KEY PLUG BY SAID FIRST KEY AFTER THE INITIAL SERIES OF TUMBLER ELEMENTS HAS BEEN CHANGED. 